The atmosphere is a little calmer
this morning, but that wasn't the case
last night...

CHANNEL=C SOT FULL

SOT FULL

INQ= CREWS WERE

*CG locator Covington

:00

*CG 2line Shamika Dorcus

Covington Resident

:14

*CG 2line Paul Kirby

Covington Resident

:19

*CG 2line Charlene Johnston

Witness

:42

*CG 2line Kimberly Armstrong

Witness

:52

*CG 2line John Zeek

Clifton Forge Fire Department

1:10

RUNS=1:16 (END SOT)

OQ= AS IT WENT << Crews were called to the
(END SOT) Covington Motor Company on South Monroe

Avenue around 6:30.

They arrived to find the showroom
and the parts department fully
involved.

The fire drew attention from
neighbors, who say the situation was a
scary one.

SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ= Oh my God Shamika Dorcus/Covington Resident -

clip 6/starts at 21:03:44 "Oh my god, I
was just seeing people everywhere, it
was like shocking."3:49

RUNS= (END SOT)

OQ= was like shocking

(END SOT)

SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ= I could see Paul Kirby/Covington Resident

08:56 in Joe Cam (3)

I could see it from the upstairs
bathroom window and it was shooting
about ten feet over the top of the two
story houses there. and the building
ain't quite two stories tall. It was a
big fire. They had their hands full.
09:10

County worked to put out the flames,
all the while keeping onlookers out of
danger's way.

SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ= We were standing Charlene Johnston/witness - clip

5/starts at 20:59:32 - "We were
standing there for awhile and the fire
got bigger, flames were shooting up
really high, and I mean I got scared,
Kimberly got scared, they told me to
back away from the building because
something was going to explode."59:59

RUNS= (END SOT)

OQ= going to explode

(END SOT)

SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ= I was kinda Kimberly Armstrong/witness - clip

4/starts at 20:57:27 - "I was kinda
scared at first. Nothing like this has
ever happened here. It's different,
and it caused a lot of commotion."
57:38

RUNS= (END SOT)

OQ= lot of commotion Investigators still don't know
(END SOT) what caused the fire, but officials do

know it caused a good deal of damage.

SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ= It's pretty well Lt. John Zeek/Clifton Forge Fire

Department - Clip 63/starts at 20:39:04
"It's pretty well burned out in the
showroom and through the roof and in
the repair bays in the back, but that's
as far as it went." 39:13

cold front will whip up winds and
Leo goes back to desk heavier rain Wednesday evening. Two
DESK 2-SHOT---Leo and Kim things to watch out for. Gusty winds
(tease and toss to bump) Wednesday and possible thunderstorms
Lottery-Bump Wednesday afternoon. Some of these
COMM #-1 thunderstorms maybe on the stronger

They're known to hang around
water, but are usually more private
about it.

News 7's Capitol Correspondent
Jennifer Wishon explains.

CHANNEL=C SOT FULL

SOT FULL

INQ=Nat sound birds...

*CG locator Richmond

:00

*CG 2line Jeff Trollinger

Virginia Department of Game & Inland

Fisheries

:43

*CG standup Jennifer Wishon

jwishon@wdbj.com

1:02

RUNS=1:33 (END SOT)

OQ=JW, NEWS 7, RICHMOND.

(END SOT) <<
SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ=Nats birds... 0002MR - NATS OF BIRDS ... WS TRAIN

TRESTLE FROM BANK

RUNS03 (END SOT)

OQ=nats birds... Walk along the James River and

you'll see the regulars. (clip 0011ZS)

SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ=Nats geese 0029V1 TC 4:0:17 NATS GEESE YAKING

RUNS03 (END SOT)

OQ=nats geese. These birds however, demand a

second look....

Great Blue Herons nesting in the
heart of downtown Richmond.

SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ=Nats train 0035ID TC 4:11:42 NATS OF TRAIN, shot

of city.

RUNS02 (END SOT)

OQ=nats train. Blue Herons typically nest in

secluded wetlands....

Not in a city less than 100-
yards from two train tracks in the
shadow of skyscrapers.

SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ=It's not something you... 0062MK TC 4:22:47 ROB SARTELLE: IT'S

NOT SOMETHING YOU EXPECT TO SEE IN
DOWNTOWN RICHMOND. 03

RUNS03 (END SOT)

OQ=in downtown Richmond. It's mating season.

A time when the birds are
monogamous.

They share small nests at the
tops of tall trees.

Fragile homes to raise the
couple's offspring.

Families started after a romantic
tango.

SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ=They have a very elaborate... 0001K5 TC 4:34:05 JEFF TROLLINGER:

THEY HAVE A VERY ELABORATE SORT OF
MATING RITUAL ////// WHERE THEY KIND
OF CROOK THEIR NECKS AND THEY TAP BEAKS
AND THEY KIND OF DO THE UP AND DOWN

THING. THEY BASICALLY DO A LITTLE
DANCE WITH EACH OTHER. //////

RUNS08 (END SOT)

OQ=dance with each other. A performance that's delighting

crowds.

SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ=The look awkward... 0062MK TC 4:22:30 SCOTT ARMSTRONG:

THEY LOOK AWKWARD, BUT THEY'RE SO
GRACEFUL. 04

RUNS04 (END SOT)

OQ=they're so graceful.

SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ=The females have either just ... 0008DV TC 4:38:45 JENNIFER

WISHON/JWISHON@WDBJ7.COM: THE FEMALES
HAVE EITHER JUST LAID OR ARE ABOUT TO
LAY THEIR EGGS WHICH SHOULD HATCH IN
ABOUT TWO MONTHS.

RUNS06 (END SOT)

OQ=in about two months. There's a good chance the colony

will be back next year.

Herons often return to their
nests or "rookeries" for many years.

SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ=So the rookery may actually 0001K5 TC 4:33:06 JEFF TROLLINGER: SO
increase... THE ROOKERY MAY ACTUALLY INCREASE IN
SIZE. ESPECIALLY SINCE THE BIRDS THAT
COME OUT OF THIS ROOKERY WILL BE USED
TO HUMAN CONTACT NEARBY. 11

<< Good morning, I'm Meteorologist Leo
Hirsbrunner in the SkyTracker7 Forecast
toss tO BOB Center. A warm front will pass through
providing showers and then a strong
cold front will whip up winds and
heavier rain Wednesday evening. Two
things to watch out for. Gusty winds
Wednesday and possible thunderstorms
Wednesday afternoon. Some of these
thunderstorms maybe on the stronger
side. Wednesday: Scattered showers and
storms, windy. High 68 Get the latest
weather forecast and radar imagery
anytime on our website, wdbj7.com. >>

:00 The players landed at Roanoke
Regional Airport shortly before 11
o'clock yesterday morning, and hopped
on a bus bound for Blacksburg, where
dozens of fans were waiting for them in
front of Burress Hall.

*CG locator Blacksburg The Yankees were solemn taking their
time to remember what happened on this
campus nearly a year ago.

Afterwards, Derek Jeter took a
special picture with a woman who's
fianc� was killed on April 16th.

CHANNEL=B SOT FULL
SOT FULL

INQ=IT MEANS THE

*CG 2line Marcy Crevonis

:00 MARCY CREVONIS, FIANCE WAS KILLED APRIL
16TH

12:06:10 IT MEANS THE WORLD TO
ME.........TWO WEEKS TO COME TO
BLACKSBURG.:17

RUNS=:07 (END SOT)

OQ=COME TO BLACKSBURG

VO-NAT VO-NAT

Although the circumstance
yesterday was very sad - the players
say they were happy the team could help
heal the Virginia Tech community.

(END VO) (END VO)

BOB ON CAM BOB ON CAM

SS=NONE Coming up in the next half hour,
toss to bump News 7's Justin McLeod will have a
BUMP complete recap of the game.

Officials are investigating a
destructive fire at Covington Motor
Company.

CHANNEL=C VO-NAT
VO-NAT

*CG locator Covington

Around 6:30 last night...crews
arrived to find the showroom and the
parts department engulfed in flames.

The fire drew attention from
neighbors, who say the situation was a
scary one.

CHANNEL=A SOT FULL
SOT FULL

INQ=We were standing

*CG 2line Charlene Johnston

Witness Charlene Johnston/witness - clip
5/starts at 20:59:32 - "We were
standing there for awhile and the fire
got bigger, flames were shooting up
really high, and I mean I got scared,
Kimberly got scared, they told me to
back away from the building because
something was going to explode."59:59

RUNS=17 (END SOT)

OQ=going to explode.

VO-NAT VO-NAT

Investigators still don't know
what caused the fire, but officials do
know it caused a good deal of damage.

Also today, President Bush will
deliver a speech at the Pentagon saying
the military successes are undeniable
and backsliding cannot be allowed.

CHANNEL=C VO-NAT

VO-NAT The President will acknowledge

the cost has been high but argue it's
all been worth it.

Speaking at the Pentagon - target
of one of the 9/11 attacks - excerpts
released by the White House show he'll
frame the conflict in Iraq as a
critical chapter in a war that could
return here if we let up.

cold front will whip up winds and
Leo goes back to desk heavier rain Wednesday evening. Two
DESK 2-SHOT---Leo and Kim things to watch out for. Gusty winds
(tease and toss to bump) Wednesday and possible thunderstorms
PSA-Bump Wednesday afternoon. Some of these
COMM #-1 thunderstorms maybe on the stronger

AGGRESSIVE ACTION BY THE FEDERAL
RESERVE... THE CENTRAL BANK SLASHED THE
SHORT-TERM RATE BY THREE-QUARTERS OF A
POINT... TO 2-AND A QUARTER PERCENT...
ITS LOWEST LEVEL SINCE 2004.

THE DOW SURGED 420 POINTS

THE NASDAQ GAINED 91

THE RATE CUT IS THE FED'S LATEST
ATTEMPT TO CUSHION BOTH CONSUMERS AND
BUSINESSES FROM THE WORST OF THE CREDIT
CRISIS...

AND THE CUT SHOULD HELP AMERICANS
STRUGGLING TO PAY DEBT ON ADJUSTABLE
RATE CREDIT CARDS AND HOME EQUITY
LOANS.

BUT MANY ARE WORRIED THE FED'S MOVE
WILL FUEL INFLATION... THE LATEST
REPORT SHOWED WHOLESALE PRICES SURGED
IN FEBRUARY -- WITH SOARING ENERGY
COSTS OFFSETTING A DROP IN FOOD PRICES.

VISA IS HOPING TO CASH IN ON WALL
STREET TODAY� THE WORLD'S LARGEST
CREDIT CARD NETWORK GOES PUBLIC - WITH

AN I-P-O THIS MORNING.

AND KEEP AN EYE ON SHARES OF YAHOO
TODAY... THE STOCK ROSE MORE THAN 6
PERCENT TUESDAY AFTER YAHOO TOLD
INVESTORS IT EXPECTS TO DOUBLE
OPERATING CASH FLOW OVER THE NEXT THREE
YEARS TO OVER 3 AND A HALF BILLION
DOLLARS...

YAHOO USED THE PROJECTION AS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO AGAIN CALL MICROSOFT'S
45 BILLION DOLLAR TAKEOVER BID
UNDERVALUED.

They're requesting proposals for
the "Old Yellow" building on North
Bridge Street.

It was once a public school, but
it's been vacant for almost 20 years.

City leaders say the building
could be used for all sorts of things,
including housing or a community
center.

It's listed in the National

Register of Historic Places, so anyone
that builds here would be eligible for
tax credits.

CHANNEL= A SOT FULL
SOT FULL

INQ="The other alternative would be..."

*CG 2line Bart Warner

Bedford Assistant City Manager 5:15:31 Bart Warner: "The other
alternative would be demolition, but we
are seeking to avoid that. It's a
structure that's been part of our
community for almost 100 years and,
frankly, we're curious to see what the
next hundred years is going to bring
for it." 5:15:43

RUNS=:12 (END SOT)

OQ="...is going to bring for it."

VO-NAT VO-NAT

If you have an idea for the
building, you have until April 25 to
submit your proposal to the Bedford
city manager's office.

(END VO) (END VO)

BOB TOSSES TO BUMP BOB ON CAMERA

BUMP News 7's Tim Saunders will have
COMM more on this story coming up in about
20 minutes.

BUT first we'll put our weather
knowledge to the test after the break.

The atmosphere is a little calmer
this morning, but that wasn't the case
last night...

CHANNEL=C SOT FULL

SOT FULL

INQ= CREWS WERE

*CG locator Covington

:00

*CG 2line Shamika Dorcus

Covington Resident

:14

*CG 2line Paul Kirby

Covington Resident

:19

*CG 2line Charlene Johnston

Witness

:42

*CG 2line Kimberly Armstrong

Witness

:52

*CG 2line John Zeek

Clifton Forge Fire Department

1:10

RUNS=1:16 (END SOT)

OQ= AS IT WENT << Crews were called to the
(END SOT) Covington Motor Company on South Monroe

Avenue around 6:30.

They arrived to find the showroom
and the parts department fully
involved.

The fire drew attention from
neighbors, who say the situation was a
scary one.

SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ= Oh my God Shamika Dorcus/Covington Resident -

clip 6/starts at 21:03:44 "Oh my god, I
was just seeing people everywhere, it
was like shocking."3:49

RUNS= (END SOT)

OQ= was like shocking

(END SOT)

SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ= I could see Paul Kirby/Covington Resident

08:56 in Joe Cam (3)

I could see it from the upstairs
bathroom window and it was shooting
about ten feet over the top of the two
story houses there. and the building
ain't quite two stories tall. It was a
big fire. They had their hands full.
09:10

County worked to put out the flames,
all the while keeping onlookers out of
danger's way.

SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ= We were standing Charlene Johnston/witness - clip

5/starts at 20:59:32 - "We were
standing there for awhile and the fire
got bigger, flames were shooting up
really high, and I mean I got scared,
Kimberly got scared, they told me to
back away from the building because
something was going to explode."59:59

RUNS= (END SOT)

OQ= going to explode

(END SOT)

SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ= I was kinda Kimberly Armstrong/witness - clip

4/starts at 20:57:27 - "I was kinda

scared at first. Nothing like this has
ever happened here. It's different,
and it caused a lot of commotion."
57:38

RUNS= (END SOT)

OQ= lot of commotion Investigators still don't know
(END SOT) what caused the fire, but officials do

know it caused a good deal of damage.

SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ= It's pretty well Lt. John Zeek/Clifton Forge Fire

Department - Clip 63/starts at 20:39:04
"It's pretty well burned out in the
showroom and through the roof and in
the repair bays in the back, but that's
as far as it went." 39:13

providing showers and then a strong
Leo goes back to desk cold front will whip up winds and
DESK 2-SHOT---Leo and Kim heavier rain Wednesday evening. Two
(tease and toss to bumps) things to watch out for. Gusty winds
PSA Wednesday and possible thunderstorms
Lottery-Bump Wednesday afternoon. Some of these
COMM #-1 thunderstorms maybe on the stronger

These Great Blue Herons are
building nests along the James River
right in the middle of downtown
Richmond.

The birds typically avoid urban
areas but are getting along with nearby
passing trains and city noise just
fine.

The graceful, large birds are
monogamous during mating season,
sharing a small nest 90 to 100 feet in
the air.

CHANNEL=B SOT FULL
SOT FULL

INQ=So most of them have...

*CG 2line Jeff Trollinger

Virginia Department of Game & Inland 0001K5 TC 4:31:31 JEFF TROLLINGER: SO
Fisheries MOST OF THEM HAVE MATED AT THIS POINT.
AT THIS POINT THEY'RE LAYING EGGS,
GETTING READY TO LAY EGGS OR SITTING ON
EGGS SO THEY'RE JUST TIDYING UP THE
HOUSE WAITING FOR THE EGGS TO BE READY.

RUNS=12 (END SOT)

OQ=the eggs to be ready.

VO-NAT VO-NAT

They'll start hatching in the
next month or two.

Blue herons typically return to
the same nesting area year after year.

find someone who can renovate and
re-open the building on North Bridge
Street.

It's been empty for nearly 20
years, but as News 7's Tim Saunders
shows us, many believe the old school
is ready for new development.

CHANNEL=C SOT FULL

SOT FULL

INQ=

*CG locator Bedford

:00

*CG 2line Betty Gereau

Bedford Historian

:10

*CG 2line Bart Warner

Bedford Assistant City Manager

:27

*CG standup Tim Saunders

tsaunders@wdbj7.com

:49

RUNS=1:25 (END SOT)

OQ=Tim Saunders, News 7, Bedford. << The doors are locked and the
(END SOT) lamps out front have been dark for

years - but Bedford natives like Betty
Gereau remember when the old yellow
building was an exciting place to be.

Betty Gereau: "It was the first
public high school, built in 1912. And
it was a significant landmark at that
point."

And it remains a landmark today.

One the city wants to maintain -
with some help from the public.

They're putting out a request for
proposals, asking anyone with a eye for
re-development to check the school out.

Bart Warner: "There have been
several proposals over the last 5 or 6
years. Everything from residential
usage, to use by the community
college."

None of those ideas panned out.

That's why the city is changing
its tactics, even thinking about
selling the property.

"We're optimistic about finding
the right person or entity who can make
use of it."

It may look rough on the outside,
but city officials say this building is
structurally sound. It may take time
to clean out all the junk inside, but
the city doesn't think renovations
would take very long.

"I think the challenge will be in
finding the right user and owner for
that particular structure itself."

The building is listed in the
National Register of Historic Places,
so it qualifies for tax credits.

Gereau thinks incentives like
that will attract developers.

"It really could be put to good
use, adaptively re-used, for many
things."

Just what that use will be is now
up to the public.

Tim Saunders, News 7, Bedford.>>

BOB ON CAM BOB ON CAM

GRAPHIC=NONE If you have an idea for the old

building, you have until April 25th to
submit your proposal to the city
manager's office.